138 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August IS, IBS' 1 . 
checked, mounds of Blackberries and Honeysuckle, beds of Rosa rugosa, 
and rustic bridges being the chief features; but this appears to be at 
present in an unfinished state, though it will ultimately be very pic¬ 
turesque. A delightful Fern dell, and a tree-embowered pond sur¬ 
rounded by marsh and water-loving plants (the Water Soldier, Statiotes 
being very conspicuous), were successively visited and admired. The 
collection of Chrysanthemums which Mr. Kipling grows well for late 
flowering was scrutinised with interest. The vineries and Peach houses 
also received some attention, for all alike show the skill of an experi¬ 
enced cultivator. A short time was spent at the lake in the lower 
portion of the park, and then a small contingent departed homewards, 
leaving the rest to conclude the day with a tea and a journey to town by 
a later train.— Journalite. 
FLORAL DECORATIONS IN NEW YORK. 
The American gardening papers frequently give elaborate descriptions 
of the expensive floral decorations undertaken in connection with balls 
and parties in the United States cities, and the following in a recent 
number of The American Florist is an example of what is accomplished. 
It is a description of the decorations at a ball given by Mr. Cornelius 
Vanderbilt of New York in the spring. 
“ Through my connections in this city 1 had no difficulty to gain 
entrance to the mansion and take a stroll through the gorgeous apart¬ 
ments. The floral decorations were finished, the florists had left the 
premises, and the tables were set for 200. The entry has carved oaken 
walls and ceiling ; opposite the door is a broad, beautiful stairway of 
about eight or ten steps ; to the right and left of this hang the life-size 
oil paintings of Commodore V. and W. H. V.; a half looped up oriental 
portiere of a creamy white tint hangs across the head of the stairs, and 
divides this apartment from the hall beyond ; to the right of the foot of 
the stairs is an open door leading to the entry room for the billiard and 
card rooms below ; two large antique bronze vases form the caps of the 
balusters and from two black antique lamp posts falls a mild light over 
the surroundings. 
“ This entry or stair hall was decorated as follows :—The vases, 
about 2 feet in diameter, were filled with yellow Tulips and yellow 
Narcissus arranged in a loose, natural way, in a manner that about a 
dozen of each variety were in a group or cluster ; as foliage, sprigs of 
English Ivy stuck in a careless, irregular manner, and native Fern leaves 
were used ; the background for thi3 display of ‘ yellow ’ was formed by 
a solid bed of Orchids on the plants, the flowers hanging to the right and 
left of the balustrade ; at both sides of the head of the stairs, touching 
the paintings above mentioned, stood two handsome specimens of Cocos 
Palms. Standing at the foot of this stairs and turning a little to the 
right; you caught a glimpse of the entry room. The walls and ceiling 
of this are polished ebony, decorated slightly with gold and mother-of- 
pearl ; the mantel, also black and gold, is opposite the door; on this 
stood two small vases, each containing about one dozen American Beauty 
Roses—and ‘beauties’ they were, averaging 4J inches in diameter; 
these two were just carelessly stuck in, care being taken to have the 
stems of different height to make them appear natural. The effect 
produced by these few flowers with their foliage on the polished black 
background was simply immense. From the stairway they appeared 
like two pictures of Roses painted on the wall. Only this and nothing 
else constituted the floral decoration of this magnificent little room. 
“ Entering over the stairs into the main hall we saw before us 
another stairway leading to the upper floors of the house. This stairway 
has but one baluster, as it runs alongside of the wall, but at a height of 
about G feet it makes a turn to the right, displaying its balustrade. 
Along the entire length of this railing, as far as it was in view, white 
Azaleas in pots were placed, forming the upper border ; then followed 
white Lilac mixed with Vinca vines ; these were in turn followed by 
various varieties of Orchids hanging irregularly out of what appeared 
like a rockwork, and which was formed down to the floor with Virginia 
Laurel boughs. On top of the baluster set a bunch of 100 Magna Charta 
Roses, while in the corners formed by the stairway stood large specimens 
of Cocos and Areca Palms. Immediately to the right there is a large 
fireplace ; the mantelshelf of it is about 10 feet from the floor, supported 
by two large carved oaken figures. In this fireplace were two rustic 
logs, apparently burning, the flames being imitated with scarlet Tulips, 
and red hot ashes were figured with scarlet Geraniums ; to the right and 
left of these burning logs, but without covering or hiding any part of 
the carved figures, stood two fine specimens of Yews in pots, while in 
the background bunches of single white Primroses with their foliage 
and \ inca vines reminded one of the rough coating of an old-time fire¬ 
place back ; bunches of flowers hung up inside the fireplace in imitation 
of some useful articles our forefathers used to appreciate, I suppose, 
made the ‘ fireplace of the old homestead ’ complete. The mantelshelf 
was covered with Orchids, their flowers hanging over the sides in all 
directions. 
“ Close to this fireplace about 8 feet from the floor is a little window. 
The decoration of this insignificant little space was in keeping with the 
old homestead and a perfect little gem of floral decoration. So simple 
and yet so effective ! A Dracaena indivisa, a white Azalea smaller in 
size than the Dracaena, and one conspicuous Orchid were all the plants 
used for it. The bulk of the decoration rested in the right hand corner • 
the pots were hidden by green foliage, part of which, together with the 
flowers of the Orchid hung in a careless natural manner down the 
wall. 
“ In the drawing-room where the dancing was to go on only a few 
specimens of Palms were used in safe corners. The musicians were on 
the same floor, but hidden behind a balustrade 6 feet high made of 
Laurel boughs, which again was crested with a compact row of Orchids, 
over this balustrade rose the crowns of three handsome Cocos Palms, ancl 
the four spaces thus formed were spanned over by Orchids fastened 
against heavy wire arches. Last, but not least, I must mention a little 
fireplace in this same drawing-room close by the gorgeous display of 
Orchids ; this was modestly decorated with dark green foliage, native 
Fern leaves, &c., and from the midst of all these, as if by accident, 
peeped a modest plant of Marguerite Daisy. I found it strange that 
not a sprig of Smilax was used in this decoration, and learned since that 
many people ‘ of society ’ have a dislike for it, and it is therefore 
banished from many houses. 
“ The decorations of the dining tables consisted of loose bunches of 
flowers and Ferns, and among the bunches carried by ladies I noticed 
some containing white Violets as one half and Lily of the Valley as the 
other, or Ulrich Brunner Roses for one and Heliotrope for the second 
half ; others had Lily of the Valley for one and Orchids for the other. 
I am told that such bunches range in price from 10 dollars to 35 dollars- 
each. 
“ Considering the size of the apartments there were not many plants 
and flowers used in this decoration, but the manner in which they were- 
displayed brought every one to count, and the effect was impressive. 
Quality took the place of quantity, and if the New York aristocracy 
makes the style for America, the American florists are to be congratu¬ 
lated that the old custom once more comes to reign.” 
TERRA COTTA ROSE. . 
I have no recollection of making any mention of this Rose, or of 
ever having heard of it before, and think there must be some mistake. 
Four small blooms now sent me do not seem to differ practically from 
Anna Ollivier; rather yellower in ground colour, perhaps, but that is 
probably the result of fading. There does not seem to me any likelihood 
of its forming a distinct sport. I have now many blooms on my plants 
of Anna Ollivier with little or no shading, and others fully coloured 
with the “ terra cotta” tint, which has always been quite distinctive of 
the variety. Many of the Tea Roses are very changeable in colour, and 
it requires a very decided variation indeed, as from Souvenir d’un Ami. 
to Souvenir A. Prince, or Catherine Mermet to The Bride, to give any 
hope of a fixed and distinct sport which can rightly be called a new" 
Rose.— W. R. Raillem. 
PACKING ROSES FOR PARCEL POST. 
Having always been congratulated on the freshness of my Rose- 
blooms sent to friends at long distances, perhaps a hint or two may be 
of some use to amateurs. The following is an extract from friends in- 
Luton, about 100 miles from here. “ We duly received your Roses 
yesterday morning. They were indeed beautiful, and opened out- 
splendidly, looking as fresh as if only just cut. They were very 
delightful, and gave us much pleasure.” 
These Roses (as usual) were cut in the early morning with the dew 
upon them. A milkpan was about three parts filled with grass pressed 
firmly down all round. The pan was then half filled with cold spring 
water. The grass being raised from the side of the pan, Roses were 
inserted all round the edge, those with the longest stems being used, 
and the shortest were stuck upright in the middle until the pan was 
filled. They were placed in a cool cellar until evening. A box suffi¬ 
ciently large for about three dozen blooms and buds intermixed being 
procured, this had about 2 inches of short fresh cut grass placed in the 
bottom, which atfords a soft damp, but not wet bed. On this the blooms 
were laid and placed with the stems towards the middle of the box from 
either end until only a few inches of space remained. Here a good 
thickness of the short grass is placed firmly well above the sides of the 
box, so that when the lid is shut it requires pressing to close, which 
holds all firm, so that no shaking and rubbing occurs. Before nailing 
or tying down, a layer of tender Lettuce leaves gently presses on the 
blooms. Being despatched in the evening they avoid the drying effects 
of the sun in transit, hence that freshness and bright colour which is so- 
highly prized.—J. Hiam. 
[Of flowers sent to us to be named few arrive fresher than those 
packed in soft newly cut grass.] 
NATIONAL ROSE SHOWS. 
SHEFFIELD. 
If a warm and liberal support to the Show and to the prize list 
is required by the National Rose Society in choosing the place for 
their provincial Exhibition, those authorities must have been amply 
satisfied that they accepted the invitation of -Sheffield for 1889. Two 
ten-guinea cups, and large contributions to the local prizes, and other 
rewards offered by the National Rose Society, formed a tempting pro¬ 
gramme indeed, and it was a great pity that the earliness of the season 
